Geneva agreements should change political situation in Ukraine - German FM

April 18, 2014, 8:55 UTC+3BERLIN“We have a chance again that the split of Ukraine will be prevented and regions will jointly work on the economic and political future of the country,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says

BERLIN, April 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Agreements reached at a four-party meeting on the situation in Ukraine on Thursday that involved representatives of Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine are an important step that has to pass a test, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

“Peace in Ukraine has not won yet, and we are still far from the ultimate objective,” Steinmeier said. “We have a chance again that the split of Ukraine will be prevented and regions will jointly work on the economic and political future of the country.”

The foreign minister said “now it is necessary to prove in practice that the Geneva agreements will change politics rather than just remain on paper”.

The Geneva Statement adopted after Thursday’s meeting on Ukraine is designed to de-escalate the situation in the country. It in particular envisions that all illegal armed formations should be disarmed in Ukraine, all administrative buildings unblocked and all protesters except for those who committed serious crimes pardoned.